Highlanders 2025
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In other news, hearing Fakatava, Lennox and Pledger are being lined up as three halfbacks next year… considering Hastie is set to be left out for a second consecutive week it certainly makes sense sense.
Supposedly JJ rates neither Arscott or Hastie. For all his up-side, Hastie does remain a little slow to the breakdown.
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@frugby a bit wild we're letting Hastie slip through the cracks. His box kicking has been impressive as has his offloading and sniping around the rucks. You'd have to feel he's the sort of guy who could at least make All Blacks XV in a season or two. I'd probably carry him over Lennox who I've yet to see do much at this level.
Sounds like JJ is planning on cutting some contracts short next season. Wonder if Michaels, Wingham, Falefaga and Hastie all get cut?
Here's a left field pick too - I wonder if Bell gets cut and Ioane Mounau from the crusaders gets picked up?
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This Tangitau chat by George is the Roigard rumour part 2. Classic stuff.
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@handa457 Hastie's big issue is he drifts out of the game so much, to the point others have to fill in at halfback. Which makes me wonder if his communication isn't very good either. You can't carry a halfback if he's that remiss in his core role.
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Injury update.
Caleb Tangitau (Groin / 1-2 weeks)
James Arscott (Shoulder / TBC)
Nikora Broughton (Knee MCL/ TBC)
Tanielu Tele’a (Hamstring / 2-3 weeks)
Finn Hurley (Quad / Season)
Hayden Michaels (Hamstring / Season)
Ajay Faleafaga (Broken hand / Season) -
@Canes4life well, Stick by this 1, nogusta, look at his rumour, Sullivan, Funaki, both back and were always going to be, I can take the heat,
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@george33 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble contract, he most likely had a lot of options in it when he signed for this season, Blues aren't stupid they were never going to let him walk away, for more than 1 year, the time has been put into him since he was 18, game time massive for him, Talea moving, and that was always on the cards, after not signing on last season.
That doesn’t actually answer my question though…and raises another
2 year contract with highlanders yes/no?
If no, are you saying he has an existing contract with the blues including some sort of sabbatical? If no then what do you mean by the blues won’t let him walk away? Explain the situation where an organisation has any control without a contract
Also, if no 2 year deal with the highlanders, why did he say he signed one?
@george33 can you answer my questions?
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@Kiwiwomble No, to much abuse, said what I said.
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@george33 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life well, Stick by this 1, nogusta, look at his rumour, Sullivan, Funaki, both back and were always going to be, I can take the heat,
Wait...How come I'm catching strays here?
Leave me out of your convos please -
@george33 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble No, to much abuse, said what I said.
I haven’t abused you, simply asked questions when you said that you would answer any that were asked
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@Bones agree he fades in games. But just wonder if that's inexperience at this level more than anything else. Normally a young guy like Hastie would be spending 2 - 3 seasons getting twenty minutes off the bench at the end of games. Feel like he's been thrown in the deep end, and then thrown to the wolves for a pretty reasonable set of teething problems.
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@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2025:
@george33 stray bullets? Never mind champ...I wasn't sure why I had the honor of getting a mention by you.
You've got some of the best intel on this forum. Hardly ever get stuff wrong. Always look forward to spotting your posts!
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@SouthernMann Hearing Nogusta say he hasn’t heard anything fills you with confidence.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
@handa457 Hastie's big issue is he drifts out of the game so much, to the point others have to fill in at halfback. Which makes me wonder if his communication isn't very good either. You can't carry a halfback if he's that remiss in his core role.
Too slow to the breakdown for all his upside… Lennox, Fakatava and Pledger all quicker with a better pass - can see why Hastie would get let go.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Sounds like JJ is planning on cutting some contracts short next season. Wonder if Michaels, Wingham, Falefaga and Hastie all get cut?
Faleafaga going to Japan so I hear… Michaels and Wingham clearly aren’t rated, but may depend on if they can get someone better
Here's a left field pick too - I wonder if Bell gets cut and Ioane Mounau from the crusaders gets picked up?
Both signed to their respective sides till 2026. The fact Bell has been picked over Taylor this week I think is telling. Offers more grunt work at this moment in time… I think hooker would be the least of our worries.
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Perhaps to get the thread back on track (not hypocritical at all). We still have what seems like an obvious route to the top six. It will require the team to really step up but injured players are coming back and the top 23 is finally insight.
Can we beat the chiefs this weekend? Maybe. But a loosing bonus point and no injures is a must.
Crusaders at home. Definitely vulnerable and at home, the highlanders have a real chance and I back them. Close win
Moana: this has to be a bonus point win.
Bye: perfect timing after three big games. Injured players are back, a good rest before the final three games
Hurricanes: a must win. Back the team to do it. Close win
Crusaders: tougher at home. Has to be a bonus point loss at least
Chiefs: Chiefs will likely be fighting for a top 2 finish in this game so will come out firing. Tough one at home, bonus point loss.
Leaves the Highlanders with 33 points with hopefully a positive points differential. May be enough to sneak into 6.
